Concerns, opinions vary over plans for crosswalks on Midway Boulevard in Broomfield

Residents who live along some stretches of Midway Boulevard agree something should be done to curb accidents and speeding, but they don't always agree on the options.

More than two dozen residents gathered at a community meeting Wednesday to voice their opinions about proposed Midway crosswalk changes. Broomfield officials called the meeting to get feedback on the proposed crosswalk plan, which calls for reconfiguring crosswalks and trimming foliage on Midway between Sheridan and Lowell boulevards to provide better safety and visibility for pedestrians and drivers. The plan also calls for installing a traffic light at Midway and Perry Street. In the past three years, there have been five accidents at that intersection.

"The goal is to do what we can to make this area safe," said Tom Schomer, Broomfield traffic engineer.

The proposed crosswalk changes first came up after an auto-pedestrian accident at the intersection in October, when a 12-year-old Westlake Middle School student on a bike was struck in the crosswalk by a turning vehicle.

Residents who attended the meeting had an array of opinions on the proposals to cut down on speeding, unsafe driving and traffic accidents along Midway.

The most major change staff recommends is installing a stoplight at the Perry Street intersection. The goal is to provide extra safety for pedestrians and drivers, who sometimes get in accidents because of sun glare, low visibility or speeding. The intersection is especially important for children walking to and from school, said Broomfield engineer Katie Allen.

Residents were split on whether or not a stoplight was necessary. Some thanked staff for considering the light, saying they welcomed the proposed signal as a way to slow down traffic and add more safety at the neighborhood's most-used crosswalk.

Yet others said a traffic light would ruin current traffic flow and cost too much money while not providing enough protection.

The traffic light, which could cost as much as $200,000, is not written in the city's budget. According to a staff memo, City Council could decide to amend the budget in the second half of 2013 to allow for the signal. If approved, the signal could be installed by late 2013 or early 2014.

Residents also were mixed on other features of the proposed plan, which includes removing the crosswalk at Davis Street, because the curved road provides sight distance restrictions. Staff also proposes consolidating the crossings on Yates, Wolff and Vrain streets by removing the Wolff Street crossing. The Yates crossing and school bus and Regional Transportation District bus stops would remain. The Vrain Street crossing, which is a pedestrian-activated flashing-light, also would remain.

Rhonda Loertscher and several other residents said they do not like the idea of removing the Wolff Street crossing, because it is a direct link from the neighborhood to Broomfield County Commons open space.

Loertscher's son, an eighth-grader at nearby Westlake, uses that crossing to get to and from school each day.

"People are crossing there all the time to get to the trails, so I don't understand how taking that out would make the roads safer," she said.

Schomer said Broomfield has seen good results from eliminating crosswalks along Sheridan Boulevard at Ninth, 12th and 14th avenues and installing a traffic light at 10th Avenue. He said consolidating crosswalks and being smart about where to put them has increased pedestrian safety along Sheridan, because the design encourages pedestrians to take a few extra seconds to look at their surroundings before crossing.

An overabundance of crosswalks on Sheridan Boulevard was causing some pedestrians to walk into the street without looking, he said.

"We found it more safe for pedestrians to have to look left and right instead of just walking out," he said.

Resident Jennifer Bradford said it was a good time to talk about pedestrian safety, but wished more emphasis could be placed on holding drivers responsible for their unsafe driving practices in the area. Several other residents complained about speeding and distracted driving along Midway, especially on busy mornings when parents drive their children to school.

"This seems to put a lot of accountability on pedestrians and not on cars. I'd like to hear about strategies to deter and prevent speeding and put the accountability on drivers," Bradford said.

Schomer said Broomfield staff will take residents' suggestions into account when they draft a traffic and safety plan for Midway and present it to City Council in the coming months.

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